The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-03-25

ScC Iuc III OFuCr tu0t i lutSuG PLOCuLs
him some brandy.
went to him and found him In {
CONFUSION. l spoke to him but be
paid no heed to my words. Boliev'
ing him TO be dying / called the boat.
swain.
He came and with his help I tried
to put some brandy into his mouth.
His teeth were clcnched and when we
pricd them open with = knife blade
and introduced little OF the liquid il
dubbed back. While VIC were thus
engaged Cornish threw up his arms
and stiffcned out his body. So strong
was his dying action that he knocked
the glass Of brandy out of my hand and
threw me backward some PAGES. The
pupils of his eyes rolled down and a
film came over them; he uttered some
thing in a hoarse whisper. and lay dead
on the boatswain's knee.
1 glanced a: Miss Robertson. Her
lips were tightly compressed. other
wise the heroic girl showed no emo
ton.
The boatswain drew a deep breath.
end let the dead man. head fall gently
on the flag.
"For Miss Robcrtson's sakc,"
whispered. ''let US carry him for
ward"
lie acquicsced in silence. and we bore
the body off the poop and laid it on the
fore-hatcll.
''rhere viii be no need to bury him. ="
said l.
'sNo need and no time, sir. l trust
God'll be merciful to the poor sailor
when he's called up He was made
had by them others, sir. His heart
wasn't wrong" replied the boatswain.
Iprocured blanket from tho fore
castle and covered the body with it, and
we then walked back to the poop slow
~ and without speaking.
felt the death of this man kccnly.
He had worked Faithfully. and in my
mind had fully atoned for wrong he
had taken partin.
l stoppcd moment with the boat
swain to look at the steward before
joining Miss Robertson. 10 many. l
believe, the spectacle of idiocy would
have been more affecting than Cor
nish's death. He was tracing figures,
such rs circles and crosses, with his
forefinger on the deck. smiling vacant
iy meanwhile. and now and then look
ing around him with rolling. unmean-
ing eyes.
l returned to the wheel. and said:
''MisS Robertson, you need not remain
at the wheel. There is so little wind
now shat the ship may be left to her
self"
Saying which l made the wheel fast
and led her to one OF the skyiights.
'.l5oson," said l. Twill YOU fetch us
something to eat and drink out of the
pantry? Open tin of meat, and get
some biscuit and wine. This may be
our last meal on board the Grosvcnor, ~
| added, to Miss Robertson, as the boat
swain left us.
She looked at me in1uiringly, but
did not sneak.
Before we knew" I continued.
"that poor Cornish was dying. the
hoatswain and l resolved that we
should all of us leave the ship. We
have no longer the strength to man the
pumps. The water is coming in at the
rate of foot an hour. and we have
found lattcrly that even three of us can
not pump more at time out of her
than six or seven inches, aud every
spell at the pumps leaves us more ex-
hausted. But even though we had hes
itated to leave her, yet. now that Corn
ish is gone and the steward has fallen
imbccilc. we have no alternative"
81 understand" she said. CHANGING
at the boa. and comprising her lips.
''You are not afraid-you who have
shown more heart and courage than
all of us put together"
"No-I am not much afraid. l be-
lieve that God is looking down upon Us
and that He will preserve us. But. :"
she cried. taking short breath, and
claspiig her hands convulsivcly, lit
will be very. very lonely on the great
sea in that little boat
''Why more lonely in that little boat
than on this broken and sinking ship?
l believe, with you, that God is look
ing down upon us, and He has given
us that pure and beautiful sky as an
encouragement and a promise. Con-
:raS. the sea now with what it was this
morning. In :. few hours hence it will
be calm; and believe me when l say
that we shall DC tiionsand-fOid safer
in that boat than we are in this strained
and leaking ship. Even while we talk
now, the water is creeping into the
hold, and evc-y hour will make her
sink deeper and deeper until she dis
appears beneath the surface. On the
other hand, VIC may have many DAYS
together of this fine weather | will
steer the boat for the Bermuda Islands.
which VIC can not miss by heading the
boat west. even if l should lack the
means of ascertaining our exact where
abouts, which you may trust me will
not be the case. Moreover, the chance
of our being rescued by passing ship
will be much greater when we are in
the boat than it is while we remain
here; for no ship. though she were
commanded by I savage. would refuse
10 pick boat up and take its occu-
pants on board; whereas vessels. rs We
have already seen to our cost, will sight
distressed ships and leave them to shift
for themselves"
II do not doubt you are right" sho
replied. with a plaintivc smile. 81
should not say or do any thing to OPP
pose you. And believe me-" she eX-
claimed, earnestly. ''that 1 DO not
think more of my own life than that
of nv companions. Death is not so
terrible but that we may meet it, if
God Wills" calmly. "And l would
rather die at once. Mr.. Royle. than
win few shor. years of life On hard
and hitter terms"
She looked at the stcwsrd as she
spoke. and an expression of beautiful
pity came into her face.
Miss Robertson. 1 said. ''iu my
heart l am pledged to save Your life.